The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 197 - 198. International superstar Andre

Chapter 197: 198. International superstar Andre

Shen Qinglan didn’t think too much about it, or rather, she believed Fang Tong could handle it herself. If Fang Tong couldn’t manage something like this, she wouldn’t be the Fang Tong Shen Qinglan knew.

"Qinglan, Qinglan, I’m starving. Is there anything to eat?" Yu Xiaoxuan’s voice drifted in from the door before she even entered. Fang Tong and Shen Qinglan exchanged glances and silently chuckled.

"Eh, why is there only fruit? Where’s the meat? How can there not be any meat?" Yu Xiaoxuan was visibly disappointed when she didn’t see any food on the table.

"Last time you were eating meat and ended up in the hospital, wasn’t that lesson harsh enough? And now you’re still thinking about meat," Fang Tong remarked with amusement.

Yu Xiaoxuan bared her teeth. "What do you know? I just ate too much at once last time. This time I definitely won’t overeat." Then she looked at Shen Qinglan with puppy dog eyes, like a child waiting to be fed.

Shen Qinglan, feeling helpless, pressed the service bell on the wall. The waiter promptly entered, and Shen Qinglan handed the menu to Yu Xiaoxuan.

This time, Yu Xiaoxuan didn’t order too much—just enough for three.

While waiting for the food, Yu Xiaoxuan’s mouth didn’t stop moving. She cheerfully ate the fruit on the table and didn’t forget to chat with Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, do you know? My idol is coming to Beijing soon!" Yu Xiaoxuan was brimming with excitement.

"Your idol? Who?" Fang Tong asked.

Yu Xiaoxuan rolled her eyes, "International superstar Andre! He’s coming to Beijing next week. Moreover, he’s coming to our company. I’ve only seen him on TV and in magazines, but now I can actually meet him in person. I heard he’s collaborating with our company on a movie and will be staying in Z country for a while. It’s just so fantastic."

Shen Qinglan, who had been listening casually, suddenly became more attentive and looked at Yu Xiaoxuan, "Andre is coming to Z country?"

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded, "Yes, next Wednesday. Our company is shooting a movie, and he’s the male lead." Lowering her voice, she spoke with a hint of mystery, "Actually, when the company extended the invitation to him, they had no expectations because since his debut, he has never accepted an invitation from Z country, no matter what kind. The company just tried their luck, and who would have thought he would agree."

"Why hasn’t he accepted invitations from Z country?" Fang Tong asked curiously. She wasn’t into chasing celebrities and didn’t pay attention to the entertainment industry, so naturally, she was unclear about these matters.

Yu Xiaoxuan took a bite of watermelon, shaking her head, "I don’t know. Anyway, he’s never accepted an invitation from Z country nor has he visited before. He’s quite a mysterious person. Despite being famous for so many years, there’s very little known about his private life. He doesn’t have any scandals or negative news, and all reports about him are positive, active—he could be considered a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. However, there’s recent news that he and supermodel Cissily are a couple and have been together for many years, but who knows if that’s true. Oh, and Cissily’s figure is really amazing. I wish I had a body like hers."

Yu Xiaoxuan had a longing look on her face. She was always more interested in entertainment gossip, and now being in the industry herself, she had an even better grasp of these things and spoke of them as if they were common knowledge.

Shen Qinglan listened silently, pondering in her heart.

"Oh right, Qinglan, I’ve finished my dissertation. Could you help me look it over sometime? I’m worried it might not pass my advisor’s approval."

Shen Qinglan promptly agreed, then looked at Fang Tong, "Have you finished your dissertation?"

"It’s already done. I just need to submit it to my advisor, but I might still have some issues with the foreign language translation. Qinglan, could you take a look at it for me?"

"No problem, just send me the document to my email when you’re ready."

After the meal, the three of them went down to the bar for a while. Each of them had a distinct charm and looked beautiful, naturally attracting the attention of many. But no one came up to disturb them, for Shen Qinglan exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Those who could afford to be here were not short of means—most were comfortably well-off, and naturally, they knew of Shen Qinglan, the up-and-comer of Beijing. They understood it was better not to bother someone like her when she was meeting with friends.

"Qinglan, it’s really nice to go out with you, so peaceful," Yu Xiaoxuan looked around and noticed the gaze of the people nearby, covering her mouth with a light laugh. She held a cup of juice in her hand, not that she didn’t want to drink alcohol, but Shen Qinglan wouldn’t allow it.

Fang Tong nodded in agreement, then her gaze suddenly paused as she looked towards a certain spot, "Qinglan, isn’t that your foster sister over there?"

Shen Qinglan followed her gaze and saw Shen Xitong at the bar, sitting beside her the man who seemed to be the one from Old Master Zhou’s birthday banquet yesterday. He was said to be the son of some conglomerate.

"Yep."

"She seems to be quite pleased with herself lately, always appearing in the newspaper headlines. Wasn’t she busy preparing for a concert? How does she have the time to come here?" Yu Xiaoxuan rolled her eyes, she truly disliked Shen Xitong. Ever since that last encounter at the Shen Family’s place, her impression of Shen Xitong had plummeted into the negatives.

She even found it hard to understand. Mrs. Chu seemed like a gentle and sensible person, someone who understood things well, how could she be so blind to Shen Xitong’s true nature, treating her even better than Qinglan, her own daughter?

The publicity for this concert was massive, and it was Shen Xitong’s first time taking the leading role. Mrs. Chu was keen on supporting her, so naturally, the media wanted to give her the attention. With someone pushing things along behind the scenes, it was impossible for Shen Xitong not to become popular this time.

From Shen Qinglan’s viewpoint, she could see Shen Xitong chatting happily with the man. Her outfit today was quite normal, devoid of heavy makeup, matching her usual ladylike style.

Caught up in the lively conversation with the man, Shen Xitong was completely unaware of Shen Qinglan and her friends.

"Xitong, there’s a party this weekend, come with us, will you? It’s just some close friends, and I’ll introduce you to them," the man invited, and Shen Xitong naturally wouldn’t refuse. After all, since the concert hadn’t begun yet, she couldn’t afford to offend this man.

"Of course, I’d love to. Just let me know if there’s anything I need to prepare?" Shen Xitong asked softly, the epitome of grace.

The man certainly liked Shen Xitong. Although he knew she was just the adopted daughter of the Shen Family, he was conscious of his limits. The legitimate daughter of the Shen Family was beyond his reach. Besides, Shen Xitong was favored too, whether she was adopted or not didn’t matter much.

"You don’t need to prepare anything, just come. It’s just a casual gathering of some close friends, nothing too formal," the man said.

Shen Xitong understood. This was likely just a private party among rich second-generation kids. Attending would be a good opportunity to expand her social circle, which wasn’t a bad idea.

The two laughed and talked, oblivious to the fact that someone not far away was secretly taking photos of them.

Shen Qinglan glanced over twice then shifted her attention back, continuing to chat intermittently with Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan.

"Little sister-in-law." Han Yi’s voice rang out above her head. Shen Qinglan looked up and saw the exceptionally charming face of Han Yi.

Han Yi took a seat, conveniently next to Yu Xiaoxuan, glanced at the table, and said, "Little sister-in-law, since you’re here, why not order a drink? Whatever you want, it’s on me."

"I have to drive later, can’t drink," Shen Qinglan replied indifferently.

Han Yi had just come out from the company, originally planning to have a drink and was informed by the manager that Shen Qinglan and friends were there. Knowing Shen Qinglan’s small circle of friends, he changed his plans from a private room to the bar.

"It’s good for girls to drink less anyway," Han Yi said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, glancing at Yu Xiaoxuan beside him.

Yu Xiaoxuan hadn’t given Han Yi a glancing look since he came in, drinking her juice intently, as though what she was savoring wasn’t mere juice but rather nectar and ambrosia.

Han Yi found it amusing; this girl sure could hold a grudge. Ever since the year-end party last year, she barely gave him a second look.

"Little sister-in-law, I heard you’ve taken over a tea house?" Han Yi brought up a serious matter.

Qinglan nodded. Her tea house had officially been in business for a quite a while, and most of the customers were regulars from before. The business hadn’t declined despite the change in ownership.

Plus, before reopening after the New Year, Qinglan had made some subtle changes to the tea house’s decor, creating an even more elegant environment, which had attracted even more visitors.

Although she rarely appeared in the tea house now, she would still visit once a week. After all, it was her formal business, and she needed to show concern for it.

"Little sister-in-law, our company will be hosting a group of guests from H country soon, and some of them are quite fond of our tea culture. I wonder if we could borrow your tea house for this occasion?"

"Sure, I’ll give you the manager’s phone number when the time comes. You can contact her directly, and she’ll arrange everything for you," Qinglan agreed without hesitation.

Originally, the tea house didn’t have a manager, just an owner. The manager was someone Qinglan had picked later. Although she hadn’t been on the job long, her ability to get things done was strong and it saved Qinglan a lot of trouble.

Han Yi had never visited that tea house, but he had heard from Shen Junyu that it catered to a high-end clientele, so there was no worry about it being unsuitable.

"I say, little girl, I am your boss after all. I’ve been here for so long and you haven’t even greeted me; is that appropriate?" After the serious talk, Han Yi couldn’t help but tease Yu Xiaoxuan, a serious look on his face.

Yu Xiaoxuan pouted, putting down her juice, "Hello, boss," she said earnestly, yet insincerely.

Han Yi felt a faint sense of helplessness. Looking at Yu Xiaoxuan’s much thinner profile, he remembered the baby fat that had once been on her face, now completely gone, revealing a sharp chin.

"Andre is coming to Beijing. I’m putting together a dinner; do you want to come?" asked Han Yi.

Yu Xiaoxuan suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling, "Can I join?"

Seeing her bright, glistening eyes, Han Yi couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. This silly girl was truly boy-crazy.

"Yes." The word was squeezed out through Han Yi’s gritted teeth; he knew he shouldn’t have brought it up.

"Qinglan, I get to have dinner with Andre," Yu Xiaoxuan said gleefully.

Fang Tong looked on, speechless. She glanced at Han Yi and realized that he was treating Yu Xiaoxuan differently. After all, Han Yi wasn’t hiding it at all. It was only Yu Xiaoxuan who seemed completely oblivious. Was her reaction just too slow?

She exchanged a glance with Qinglan and stayed silent.

********

In the Yan Family of Nancheng.

Yan Anbang sat on the sofa and placed a document on the coffee table, looking at Zhao Jiaqing opposite him, "Sign it."

With an expressionless face, Zhao Jiaqing knew it was just the two of them at home. The servants had been sent away, and their son and daughter weren’t there either. Anything that needed to be discussed could be laid out in the open.

"Yan Anbang, I can sign the document, but there are some things that must be made clear. That woman claims I intentionally lost her child to take revenge because she ruined my family—that is a blame I will not shoulder."

Yan Anbang’s complexion was also far from good, as he looked at Zhao Jiaqing with eyes full of loathing, "Zhao Jiaqing, I always thought that although you weren’t the woman I liked, at the very least you could be considered kind-hearted. But I never expected you to harbor such malicious intentions. Mumu was only a few years old then, still a child, yet you had the heart to act?"

As the past was dredged up, Yan Anbang felt nothing but fury. If previously he harbored any apology and guilt towards Zhao Jiaqing, now all he was left with was regret and disgust.

If he had known Zhao Jiaqing was such a person back then, even if it meant the decline of the Yan Family, he would not have married such a poisonous woman. If not for her, he wouldn’t have separated from Qin Yan, he wouldn’t have lost his daughter Qin Mu, Qin Yan wouldn’t have gone mad, and ultimately, she wouldn’t have left him.

"So you have already decided that I’m the one who did it?" Zhao Jiaqing asked calmly, without anger or sorrow. All that remained now was tranquility; her heart had already been completely shattered by the man before her.

Yan Anbang didn’t want to continue discussing this topic with her. It was a wound in his heart that could never heal.

"Sheng Yu and Xiao Xi are my Yan Family’s children, you cannot take them away. As for what you did back then, for the sake of Sheng Yu and Xiao Xi, I won’t divulge it. Just sign the papers and leave, don’t ever appear before me again. And for their own good, you should see less of them."

Zhao Jiaqing laughed, a light laugh yet filled with sarcasm, "Yan Anbang, if we’re talking about shamelessness, you’re certainly the most shameless person I have ever met. Fine, I’ll oblige you, and I wish you and your Red Rose a lifetime without a single day of regret."

She swiftly picked up the pen from the table, signed her name at the bottom of the document, set down the pen, stood up, went upstairs, and when she came back down, she held a small suitcase in her hand. Without a glance at Yan Anbang, she walked straight out of the Yan residence.

She looked back at what had been her home for more than twenty years, the corners of her eyes slightly damp.

The old Zhao Family house was still there. Zhao Jiaqing went straight back to it. With no one living there, it was filled with thick layers of dust. Rolling up her sleeves, she began to clean.

"Daddy, where’s Mom?" Yan Sheng Yu arrived home from Beijing only to see his father, Yan Anbang, but not his mother.

Yan Anbang was still sitting on the couch, and the divorce agreement lying on the table caught Yan Sheng Yu’s eye so strikingly. He picked it up, glanced at it, and his expression instantly changed.

"You and Mom are divorced?" Yan Sheng Yu asked in disbelief.

Yan Anbang looked at his son, "Yes."

"Why? Is it because of that woman outside?" Yan Sheng Yu’s voice grew stern. He had stumbled upon his parents arguing last time and had found out his father was involved with another woman—an old flame, even. Apparently, they had a child together, a child a few months older than him.

But strangely, that child was gone, and so was that woman. Now the woman was back, so was his dad caught in the throes of an old flame, longing to reconcile with an old lover?

Yan Sheng Yu’s gaze filled with accusation as he looked at his father, "Dad, haven’t you forgotten? Mom is your wife, the one who has lived with you for over twenty years, the wife who bore and raised your children. And now you’re divorcing her just for some woman of questionable background?"

Yan Anbang’s face turned an ashen hue, "Is that how you speak to your elder? Where are your manners? Your sister is like this, and you too. I really have no idea how your mother raised you."

Yan Sheng Yu’s gaze shifted, "Xiao Xi knows too?" Suddenly understanding, "So that’s why Xiao Xi ran away from home last time—because of this?"

No wonder. Yan Sheng Yu understood, and as clarity dawned, so did regret for accusing Xiao Xi of being capricious at the time.

"Heh," Yan Sheng Yu let out a cold laugh, looking at his father with an icy gaze, "You abandon your wife for such a woman, forsake your family—I hope you never live to regret it."

Yan Anbang, furious, glared at Yan Sheng Yu, "Yan Sheng Yu, I am your father."

"I’d rather not have a dad like you," Yan Shengyu said as he dropped the line and left to find his mother. He tried calling Zhao Jiaqing but couldn’t get through. After thinking it over, he took a taxi to the Zhao family’s old house.

"Shengyu, how come you’re here?" When Yan Shengyu arrived, Zhao Jiaqing was still cleaning. Yan Shengyu looked at his mother, opened his mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say, and in the end, only called out "Mom."

Zhao Jiaqing smiled, "Mom’s fine, don’t worry. Shouldn’t you be in school having class? Why did you come back?"

Yan Shengyu watched his mother forcing a smile, held back for a moment, but still said, "Mom, if you’re sad, you can cry."

Zhao Jiaqing shook her head, "Mom is not sad." She had long since had no more heart to be hurt.

Yan Shengyu helped Zhao Jiaqing clean.

"Is Xiao Xi doing okay?" Zhao Jiaqing asked.

"She’s fine, doing well." Yan Shengyu guessed she probably didn’t know about the divorce yet. But in his heart, he felt deeply sorry for her; it was likely that this girl knew it all along and bore it silently in her heart. With her personality, the blow from this matter must have been huge.

It was a huge blow to him when he found out, let alone to Ya Xi.

"Mom, what do you plan to do in the future?" Yan Shengyu gently asked.

Zhao Jiaqing laughed, "What can I do? Mom may have lost a husband, but I still have a son and daughter. For my children’s sake, I won’t let anything happen to me. It’s just that, after a while, Mom wants to travel abroad for some time. You’ll need to take care of Xiao Xi. She wants to get into B University, so help her keep on track."

Yan Shengyu nodded in agreement.

On the other hand, after Yan Shengyu left home, it took Yan Anbang a long time to calm down. Looking at the divorce agreement on the table, he still hadn’t quite grasped the situation. He’d been discussing divorce with Zhao Jiaqing for some time, but she had always disagreed, and he even prepared for a lawsuit against her. However, he hadn’t expected Zhao Jiaqing to suddenly agree.

He rubbed his forehead, still hesitating about how to explain this to his family. Although Zhao Jiaqing had done such heartless things, those were not things he could explain to Yan Shengyu and Ya Xi. They thought he wanted to divorce Zhao Jiaqing because Qin Yan had come back, hoping to rekindle a past love, but that wasn’t the case.

Qin Yan did come back, but she was already married and had a happy family. She hadn’t come looking for him; if it wasn’t for a chance encounter, he wouldn’t have even known that Qin Yan was back. And Zhao Jiaqing, she had done such awful things to their daughter.

His phone rang, and Yan Anbang picked it up to see Qin Yan on the display, "Yanyan."

After a pause, Qin Yan’s gentle voice spoke, "Anbang, I’ve heard about you and Zhao Jiaqing getting a divorce. You really didn’t have to do this. It’s been so long since that incident; I’ve already come to terms with it. This was originally my fault, consider it my punishment. You have two children with her; children are innocent. You should consider them, you shouldn’t do this."

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Qin Yan continued, "Besides, considering your status, if the military leaders find out, your career would be over. I’m married now and very happy. Let the past be the past. As for Mumu..." Qin Yan’s voice lowered, "It’s my fault for not looking after her well. It’s like I, as a mother, owe it to her. If there’s a next life, I’ll definitely take good care of her. In this lifetime, perhaps we’re just not meant to be mother and daughter."

Yan Anbang’s eyes reddened, his voice rough with emotion, "Yanyan, don’t say that; you did nothing wrong. It’s all my fault for being too cowardly." If he had been braver back then, such a tragedy could have been avoided.

"Anbang, let’s not talk about it anymore. Let this be the end. Don’t do anything for my sake. I came back because this is my hometown, not to disrupt your family. Had I known this, I wouldn’t have come back at all."

Her sincere words only deepened Yan Anbang’s sense of guilt, "Yanyan, I’m the one who wronged you. If there’s anything you need in the future, you can always come to me. Anything I can help with, I definitely will." He didn’t mention that he had already divorced Zhao Jiaqing, not wanting to add to Qin Yan’s emotional burden. She was such a kind woman.

After hanging up the phone, Yan Anbang looked at the divorce agreement again, and any vestiges of sentimentality had vanished.

Qin Yan looked at her phone after ending the call, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

"What are you thinking about that makes you so happy?" a man embraced her from behind, softly asking in her ear.

Qin Yan smiled tenderly and gave the man a kiss on his face, "Husband, you’re back. I just spoke with a friend on the phone for a bit. What would you like for dinner tonight? I’ll cook it for you."

The man, in his forties or fifties with an ordinary appearance, looked at Qin Yan with eyes full of doting affection, clearly very fond of her.

Qin Yan was wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown. From the man’s perspective, he could see large expanses of her snowy white skin, including the swell of her chest. His gaze deepened, unable to deny that Qin Yan was beautiful. Even as a woman in her forties, she still exuded charm. Not only was her face well-maintained, but her figure also retained the youthfulness of a younger woman. Even if she claimed to be just over thirty, people would believe it.

The man scooped her up and walked into the bedroom, "Tonight, I just want to eat you." His suggestive voice echoed by Qin Yan’s ear, and she laughed seductively, draping her arms around his neck.

***********

Charming Color Bar.

It was already 10 p.m., and it was time for Shen Qinglan and the others to head home.

"Little sister-in-law, I’ll take Yu Xiaoxuan home, we live in the same direction after all." At the entrance, Han Yi spoke up; his apartment was actually on the way to Yu Xiaoxuan’s place, so he was telling the truth.

"I don’t want to, I’ll take a taxi by myself," Yu Xiaoxuan immediately refused.

Yu Xiaoxuan lived in a different direction from Shen Qinglan. Fang Tong and Shen Qinglan were heading the same way. Shen Qinglan glanced at Han Yi, meeting his eyes, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly, "Xiao Xuan, it’s not safe to take a taxi at night. Let Han Yi take you home, and call me when you get there."

"Qinglan, it’s fine, I can just take a taxi. There’s no need to trouble Mr. Han, he’s a busy man; it wouldn’t be right to make him take me home," Yu Xiaoxuan said cheerfully.

Shen Qinglan gave Han Yi a helpless look and Han Yi, grinding his teeth, glared at Yu Xiaoxuan. Then, without caring whether she was willing, he grabbed her wrist and stuffed her into the car.

"Little sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to get her home safely." Han Yi left those words behind and drove off.

Fang Tong looked worriedly in the direction they left, "Qinglan, is it really okay like this?" Could Han Yi do something to Xiao Xuan?

Shen Qinglan shook her head lightly. "Let’s go, it’s fine, Han Yi knows his limits." Although Han Yi was a flirt, his character was still decent.

Fang Tong was somewhat relieved and got into Shen Qinglan’s car.

"Just drop me off at the intersection, I can take a taxi home from there." Yu Xiaoxuan, sitting in the passenger seat, reluctantly spoke to Han Yi. She really didn’t like being alone with Han Yi, a man who was a flagrant playboy, spreading affections all over the place, and to make things worse, a jerk who impregnated a girl and didn’t take responsibility, embodying everything she despised.

Han Yi’s expression turned somewhat cold due to the disdain in Yu Xiaoxuan’s tone, "Is being with me really that unbearable for you?"

Yu Xiaoxuan was taken aback, "What?"

"What did I do to offend you that you dislike me so much?"

"I don’t dislike you. You’re my boss, my livelihood. How could I possibly dislike you?" Yu Xiaoxuan denied staunchly, unwilling to admit the truth even if she did indeed dislike him.

Han Yi sneered, "Yu Xiaoxuan, do you feel guilty when you say that?"

She did feel a bit guilty. Yu Xiaoxuan thought to herself, but she couldn’t possibly admit that out loud. She had heard colleagues in the company gossiping in secret that, despite the boss’s bewitching appearance, he was extremely vengeful. Anyone who offended him would be openly sabotaged by him without any chance to argue their case—it was downright insidious.

Han Yi had no idea what Yu Xiaoxuan was thinking. If he did, he would definitely be so angered he’d cough up blood. With the way she was, if he really held grudges, she would have suffered unimaginable retaliations from him by now.

"I guilty of what? I’m telling the truth."

Han Yi snorted with derision but did not call her out. If you’re not feeling guilty, why are your eyes darting all over the place?

"Yu Xiaoxuan, I’m not a man-eating tiger. Can you not hide from me every time you see me?" Han Yi’s voice carried a faint trace of helplessness when he spoke. Now, whenever Yu Xiaoxuan saw him, she either avoided him or wore an expression that said, ’I don’t want to talk to you, so don’t talk to me.’

Yu Xiaoxuan felt even more uneasy and laughed awkwardly, "Boss, you must be mistaken; I’m not avoiding you."

Han Yi glanced at her sideways, "Yu Xiaoxuan, that smile of yours is really ugly, stop it."

Yu Xiaoxuan immediately stopped smiling, and Han Yi did not want to discuss this matter further but instead spoke seriously, "Linda came to see me today, hoping that you could take the role of the female lead’s sister in the movie starring Andre. I agreed."

Yu Xiaoxuan was first taken aback, "You’re saying I can play Andre’s little sister?"

Seeing her surprised and delighted expression, Han Yi regretted it. He shouldn’t have agreed in the first place. Her starstruck appearance was truly annoying.

"Yes." He answered gruffly.

Yu Xiaoxuan’s face lit up with joy, but then her expression suddenly changed, "Is it because of Qinglan that you agreed?" She knew that the opportunities she got were better than the average newcomer, and she had never encountered any of the shady dealings that plagued many new artists.

No, she had encountered it once. During the auditions, Tang Mina had drugged her tea, causing her to lose her voice, but that issue was investigated and cleared up. Originally Yu Xiaoxuan thought it was because Shengxuan, the person in charge, was meticulous, but after she learned about Han Yi and Shen Qinglan’s relationship, she understood that it was likely due to Shen Qinglan.

"Does it matter?" Han Yi asked her.

Yu Xiaoxuan was silent for a while before speaking up, "It does. I want to have earned the role because of my own abilities, not through connections. I don’t want to always be labeled as someone who gets by on relationships, protected by friends to survive in this circle." She sounded very serious.

She knew what she was saying was self-righteous. Without the connections to Shen Qinglan and Han Yi, she wouldn’t have gotten a chance under Linda, nor would she have access to the resources that made others envious. On more than one occasion, she had overheard others talking behind her back, saying she got ahead by relying on Han Yi, that she was favorited by him through unspoken rules.

She hadn’t shared these thoughts with anyone, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have her own opinions. She worked so hard also to prove that while she had connections, she had talent too.

Han Yi also adopted a serious expression, "Yu Xiaoxuan, connections are also a part of your strength. If you can obtain good resources, that’s your own ability, as well as a recognition of your skills." He didn’t deny that this role arose due to his connections.

"I don’t always want to be known as someone who relies on connections." Yu Xiaoxuan’s expression became somewhat downcast. It was a rare sight for Han Yi, who was used to seeing a vibrant Yu Xiaoxuan—yelling at him, biting him, or flat out ignoring him—but each of those actions was always full of life.

A hint of compassion flashed across Han Yi’s eyes. He spoke gently, "In that case, you need to work even harder and take every opportunity seriously. Show everyone with facts that you’re outstanding and worthy of the hard-earned resources."

For the first time, Yu Xiaoxuan seriously turned her head to look at Han Yi. As the traffic light was red, Han Yi was not driving but was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and for the first time, Yu Xiaoxuan felt that Han Yi might not be as detestable as she thought, "Han Yi, I will work hard."

She didn’t refuse the opportunity, she wasn’t a naïve and unsophisticated girl. She would definitely seize any chance she could. Pride was also something that depended on the situation.

Han Yi chuckled, "Yu Xiaoxuan, you really don’t need to belittle yourself. You’re great - you work harder than most people, and you’re adaptable. Otherwise, do you really think you’d get so many resources just based on my relationship with your little sister-in-law?"

Upon hearing those words, a hint of joy surfaced in Yu Xiaoxuan’s eyes, "Really?"

As Han Yi watched the life return to her eyes, his own eyes twinkled with amusement, and he nodded, "It’s true. Your adaptability is indeed strong. It’s because I was optimistic about your future that I initially assigned you to work under Linda. Even the finest jade needs a skilled sculptor to shine its unique luster. But during this process, you’ll encounter more and have to give more than the average person." Although I can keep you safe, I can’t replace your effort, so Yu Xiaoxuan, in the end, the only one you can rely on is yourself.

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded earnestly, "I will work hard, even if it’s for Qinglan and Sister Linda."

Han Yi couldn’t help but his face darkened, for Qinglan and Linda, huh? So, all his encouragement just went to the dogs then.

"Hmph." Han Yi turned his head away and snorted. He now refused to speak to Yu Xiaoxuan; otherwise, he feared he might accidentally strangle her.

Yu Xiaoxuan looked at Han Yi, somewhat puzzled. Everyone says women change their minds faster than flipping through a book, but from what she saw, men’s moods were far from stable, especially the man before her, acting as if Aunt Flo had come to visit.

The two of them remained silent for the rest of the journey. Before opening the door and stepping out of the car, Yu Xiaoxuan glanced at the silent Han Yi, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Han Yi, thank you for driving me back, and be careful when you drive."

Han Yi didn’t respond, but his expression softened, his lips curving into a slight smile. He lowered his head to glance at his chest and chuckled to himself, Han Yi, Han Yi, you didn’t expect that one day a woman would find her way into your heart.

With his mood lifted, Han Yi drove back to the Han Family’s old residence. But as soon as he entered, he heard laughter and chatter from the living room. His step paused; the smile on his face cooled.

"Yo, you’re not sleeping in the middle of the night. Are you having a party here?" Han Yi asked, twirling his car keys with a round keychain on his fingers in a carefree manner. His casual smile made him look the very picture of a playboy.

Han Zhengshan’s temper flared at the sight, "Coming back so late, where have you been fooling around?"

"You said it yourself, I was fooling around. Naturally, it must have been a place that I couldn’t bear to leave," Han Yi replied, glancing at his wristwatch. "Besides, it’s only a little past eleven. You’re not asleep either. What, cuddling with your young wife, planning on putting on an R-rated show in the living room? Tsk tsk tsk, just take it easy, old man. When you get old, you have to accept it. If something goes wrong in your excitement, you’ll become the laughingstock of all of Beijing, and I’ll not be pleading on your behalf when our ancestors pop up from their graves."

Han Zhengshan’s face turned ashen as he glared at Han Yi. "How dare you, you unfilial son! Is this how you speak to your father? Where’s the upbringing I gave you?"

Han Yi laughed merrily, "My upbringing? ’The fault lies in the parent, not the child.’ If I’m lacking upbringing, you should ask yourself."

There was another woman sitting on the sofa, who appeared to be in her late twenties but was actually in her thirties. She only appeared younger because she took good care of herself. Right now, her expression was also grim. She was Han Zhengshan’s second wife, Xia Fei.

With Han Yi’s words enraging Han Zhengshan to the point of chest heaving, Xia Fei quickly soothed his chest, "Alright, don’t be angry. You know his temperament." Then she turned to Han Yi, speaking earnestly, "Han Yi, don’t provoke your father as soon as you get back. He’s not in good health, and he can’t take the stress." Her implications were clear, stopping just short of calling Han Yi unfilial.

Han Yi looked at her coldly, "And you’re speaking on behalf of what status exactly?"

"What status? She’s my wife, and I’m your father. What do you think her status is? Even if she’s not your birth mother, you should at least call her Auntie, right? Hasn’t anyone taught you to show some respect to your elders?" Han Zhengshan angrily scolded Han Yi, very displeased with his treatment of Xia Fei.

Han Yi’s smile was faint as the light flickered in his peach blossom eyes, "What I want to ask is whether this ’auntie’ is even five years older than me?"

His comment changed the faces of the two people present.